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The University of Maine field hockey team may be contending for the America East Championship in the snow this weekend; however, the Black Bears said weather will not be an obstacle when they take on the University of New Hampshire Friday, a rematch of last weekend’s America East season finale.
“We are extremely grateful and excited for another opportunity to play New Hampshire,” head coach Terry Kix said. “We will practice this week to eliminate mistakes and finish our opportunities with an exclamation point.”
The Black Bears played well against New Hampshire last Saturday but were unable to capitalize on their scoring opportunities. UMaine outshot the Wildcats 21-11, but fell victim to New Hampshire’s offensive corner plays and lost by a final score of 2-1.
“Throughout our season our corner defense has done an exceptional job,” Kim Leo, a senior for UMaine, said. “This was the first real game that we struggled defending them. I think that we might change things up a bit in order to keep [New Hampshire] on their toes. We didn’t change things up a whole lot like we tended to do in the past.”
The Black Bears have proven their defensive strength all season and last Sunday’s goals were the only two allowed on penalty corners this season. UMaine also boasts a defense that ranks second in the league, having allowed only 16 goals in 17 games. The Black Bears are tied with Northeastern for first place in shutouts with eight.
Both offensively and defensively, the Black Bears share some common elements. Senior leadership is evident in all aspects of the game, and UMaine has a talented senior class that has helped guide the team to the postseason. Kix has repeatedly praised her seniors for their leadership and feels the loss to New Hampshire was particularly disappointing.
“Our seniors are disheartened that we did not win an America East regular season championship and lost the opportunity to host,” Kix said. “The senior class is a very special group of student-athletes with a lot of heart.”
Senior midfielder Jen Johnstone has played an integral role on both ends of the field for the Black Bears and said she is ready to take her team to the next level.
“As a senior, I am just trying to enjoy my last season and make the most of the opportunities we have,” Johnstone said. “I know that all of the seniors are working hard and want to take the team as far as we can. We want to make our last season our most memorable.”
The 2002 campaign certainly has been a memorable one for the UMaine field hockey team. As the Black Bears prepare for the postseason, another common element associated with their success has been confidence. All season the Black Bears have felt they are capable of winning an America East Championship and, according to Johnstone, losing the regular season title has not affected their confidence.
“I don’t think that the game has diminished our confidence at all,” Johnstone said. “Everyone knows that we played hard and just didn’t come out on top. We are disappointed that we are not hosting the tournament at home, but are excited at the opportunity of attending the America East tournament. It is something our entire team has worked for all year and we are highly motivated to succeed.”
Leo agrees and also credits the underclassmen, who may have been overshadowed by the emphasis on the senior class.
“I just want to keep everyone confident, focused and ready to win on Friday,” Leo said. “We have worked really hard this season and have had a few tough breaks, but in the end, I am hoping that as a team, we can end out on top. I know as a whole this is what our coaching staff and team has been preparing themselves for all season.”
There may be some snow covering Northeastern University’s Sweeney Field in Boston this weekend, but the Black Bears will be looking to battle both the elements and the New Hampshire Wildcats in the first round of the America East playoffs Friday.
“They are a very beatable team,” Leo said. “We just have to stay focused all week long on correcting all the small mistakes that we made in the game.”
